Disclaimer: Paramount owns all. I'm just playing.

Summary: Another (long awaited) reunion occurs, and plans are hatched.

Authors note: for those who've forgotten the 1st episode – which, admittedly, was some time ago – remember that in this universe, before this story started, it was Commander Cavitt (Kathryn's XO on Voyager) and not Tuvok who originally infiltrated the Maquis cell to gain information for Starfleet. That was why Seska shot him instead of bringing him onto the Liberty when she and Hogan conducted their raid on Voyager.

~~~

The wariness in Cavitt's voice hadn't prepared Kathryn for the scene that greeted her when she materialised in the aft cabin of the stolen runabout. Cavitt was standing to her left, with his hands resting on top of his head. At the rear of the cabin stood Tuvok, aiming a phaser at Cavitt's chest. The ensign who'd accompanied him was nowhere to be seen.

"Hello, Captain", he said calmly. "I am pleased to see you."

"Tuvok?"

She stood as if her boots were bolted to the floor, gaping at the scene before her. First he disappeared without leave, sent her a mysterious message leading her to this group of planets, and now this?

"Are you holding my first officer hostage?"

To her surprise, Cavitt chuckled at that. "I shouldn't laugh, Captain", he said, "but something about this feels awfully familiar to me."

"I beg to differ", Tuvok said. "Unlike Seska, I have no intention of shooting you."

The reminder of her crew's ambush more than three months ago brought the feeling back into Kathryn's legs. She took a short step forwards, her hands resting on her hips in a gesture familiar to both men.

"Tuvok, I'm sure there's a logical reason for your behaviour."

"There is".

The familiar voice spoke from behind her. She turned to see Chakotay stepping through the doors leading from the front cabin. If she'd been shocked before, now she was flabbergasted. The unexpected confusion of seeing him like this, when she was completely unprepared, sent a flush of heat to her cheeks. She squeezed her fingers tightly into fists, trying to ignore the strange sensation she felt in her stomach.

Tuvok, who went AWOL, is pointing a deadly weapon at my first officer, she thought. And here's the man I love. Neither thought seemed particularly rational, still, both were true.

"Chakotay? What… Where… How…"

Chakotay shot her a quick grin. "I think you forgot why", he said. He glanced over at Tuvok. "You can put that away now, Tuvok. I'm sure Mr Cavitt will be happy to join you in the other room for a few minutes."

Cavitt's expression was unreadable, but his eyes flickered with surprise as Tuvok slipped the phaser back into its holster.

"As you wish", Tuvok said.

Cavitt stared at him, his bottom lip curling contemptuously. "What is this? Do you take orders from this man? Are you one of them too?"

Tuvok raised an eyebrow but didn't seem offended. "At the moment I am acting against my nature", he said. "Not to mention my training."

"And we love you for it, Tuvok".

Chakotay stepped past Kathryn, allowing his arm to brush gently against her elbow as he did so. It was the slightest of gestures, but she felt as though he'd announced his feelings to the whole room.

"If you wouldn't mind?"

Tuvok nodded, then led Cavitt past them into the front cabin. Cavitt stared suspiciously at Kathryn as he passed her.

"Is this what you mean by knowing nothing?" he said. "Quite a plan, really."

Kathryn didn't reply, holding her breath until door slid shut behind them. Then she let it out, shaking her head in disbelief.

"A few moments ago, I thought the Liberty might be here", she said, gazing at Chakotay. "I had no proof, but I suspected… I had a message from the Potemkin saying… And then Tuvok disappeared from the runabout, and we knew he had to be somewhere…"

For some reason she felt her eyes filling with tears.

"Have you lost the ability to finish sentences since I saw you last?"

Kathryn chuckled despite her confusion. She'd imagined their meeting many times, but hadn't expected it to come to soon, or to occur quite like this.

"Yes", she said softly.

"'Yes' can be a sentence", he said, moving towards her.

"A very short one."

"Sometime's it's long enough. Sometimes it's just right." Chakotay reached for her hands, hooked his fingers around hers, and drew her closer. "It's been a while, stranger. About six weeks now."

Without thinking any further, Kathryn pressed herself against his chest, allowing him to wrap his arms tightly around her. He smelled exactly the same – an odd mixture of sweat and sandalwood and some type of spice she could never identify. Her eyes began to tear again as she breathed him in. She tightened her hold on his waist, letting the rough cotton of his shirt rub against her nose and cheek.

"Five weeks", she said, her voice muffled.

Chakotay loosened his embrace slightly and looked down at her. "What?"

"It's been five weeks and six days", she said.

Familiar dimples appeared as his mouth curved up into a smile. "I did say about".

She slid her palms along his back, pulling him closer again. He held her silently, resting his face against hers. They stood together for some time, neither of them speaking. Eventually Chakotay drew back, loosening his hold on her, without letting go.

"We have a lot to talk about," Kathryn said.

"I know. That's why I'm here."

One hand traced the outline of her jaw, his thumb trailing along her lower lip.

"Can I kiss you first?"

"If you like."

Chakotay used one finger to lift up her chin. He leaned forward, pressing his lips gently against hers. As his breath tickled her cheek, Kathryn returned the kiss unthinkingly, deeply. Chakotay placed his palms on either side of her face as her drew away. His thumbs grazed her cheeks as he rested his forehead against hers.

"You're in danger", he said softly.

"I'm what?"

"I have so much to say to you. But the rest can wait. You need to know this first."

He propelled her gently towards a seat, then sat down in the neighbouring chair, reluctantly letting go of her hands.

A sudden thought occurred to her then. "Where's my ensign?"

"Who?"

"Ensign Cook. The one I sent along with Cavitt on the away team".

"Oh, her. Don't worry. B'Elanna interfered with the transport and sent her back to a different deck on Voyager. She'll think it was just a transporter malfunction. You'll hear all about it when you get back, not doubt."

"Alright". Kathryn had ceased to be surprised by B'Elanna Torres' ingenuity many months before. "So why am I in danger?"

"Your security chief, Sari Kumuda, is not who you think she is."

Kathryn let her hands rest on her knees, meeting his concerned gaze. "What do you mean?"

"It's a long story. We've all been trying to put together the pieces of what we know about what happened to the shuttle. Tuvok found out part of it. Kumuda was involved. Kathryn, she works for Section 31."

"I know that".

"You do?" It was his turn to look taken aback. "How?"

"She told me."

He stared at her dumbly. "She told you?"

"She said Seska was supposed to help her get the transwarp specs off the shuttle, then they were going to share the spoils. Lamond was just a pawn in their plans. They both manipulated him."

Chakotay shook his head incredulously. "Seska? Share the specs?"

"Obviously she didn't. She double-crossed Kumuda and destroyed the shuttle instead. She also told me that Section 31 was responsible for setting you up as the culprit. Starfleet was willing to believe it rather quickly, though."

Chakotay listened to her quietly, his head slightly bowed. "Why would she tell you this?"

Kathryn shrugged. "I don't know. She said she needed my help, but I don't see why. I knew she was holding something back, but I had no idea it was this. It wasn't as though I was about to catch her."

Chakotay bit his lip, thinking hard. "She must want something from you. Or from Voyager. Something you haven't thought of."

"I know that much. I just don't know what. I was sure she wasn't telling me the whole truth. She was certainly trying to manipulate me."

"How?"

She shook her head, her hair brushing against her shoulders. "I'd rather not say."

He eyed her carefully. "Did she tell you she still wants the specs? That she knows where they are?"

Kathryn stared at him. "No. No, she didn't. She said something about catching the Cardassians responsible." She shrugged again. "I assumed she wanted to make Seska pay for double-crossing her."

"No doubt she does. But Tuvok says she wants to retrieve Harry's sketches of the specs, too."

A shadow darkened Chakotay's face then. Kathryn instinctively reached out to take his hand.

"What is it?"

"You know Kes is with us?"

Kathryn nodded. "We took her as far as Jotham Four. She and Louis Zimmerman left together."

"B'Elanna picked them up. The thing is…" he hesitated before going on, "I don't know how to explain this. Kes keeps saying she's had a vision. She thinks Harry is still alive."

Kathryn's eyes began to water. "Oh", she said. "What does Louis think?"

"He won't say in any detail. He says she's been under too much stress. That her mental powers have been growing, and that maybe the grief has confused her."

"Poor Kes".

"I know. Tom says that we should let her-"

"Wait a minute. Tom Paris is with you?"

"Uh huh."

"We haven't heard from him since we left him in Newcastle. He's with the Liberty?"

"He turned up again in Newcastle about a week later. Said he wanted to help me catch whoever was responsible. He seemed desperate to help and had some ideas. Going to DS9 was one of them. Crazy as that seems, he had a contact there who helped us. Kath, what is it?"

He squeezed her hand. Kathryn's had started to cry again, and she brushed at the tears angrily.

"It's nothing. It's just… all of this. It's crazy. You two heading to a space station when you're the sector's most wanted. Us meeting up like this. What are we even doing here? Did Tuvok tell you?"

"Yes." Chakotay watched her for a moment, all too aware she was trying to change the subject. He'd come to know Kathryn well during their time together, and knew when she was hiding something. "He managed to find out that there's an abandoned Cardassian training camp on the second moon of this planet. That's where Seska must have retreated to. We're going down there to find her."

"Is that where Kes thinks Harry is?"

"She's adamant about it. She says there's only a few Cardassians there with Seska and the prisoner."

Kathryn's eyes widened in alarm. "But if there's a camp, surely there must be Cardassian patrols. Is there a cruiser nearby?"

"Not that we know of. Whatever Seska is plotting down there, she's doing it in great secrecy. That means no warships patrolling the area, not even to guard it. Tuvok think it would attract too much attention if they were spotted." He thought for a moment, chewing idly on his thumb nail. "Perhaps it's overconfidence, too. She probably isn't expecting any visitors."

"So she and Jonas came here in Neelix's ship, then left it in orbit. Why do you think it's damaged?"

"We don't know."

"Alright". Kathryn considered his story, her eyes flickering as she made some mental calculations. "Do you have a plan yet?"

"B'Elanna's working on a way to breach their security. She thinks she can implant a virus into the main computer. That was Tom's idea, actually."

Again Kathryn seemed to flinch at the mention of the young man. He peered at her quizzically, but she ignored the unspoken question.

"What then?"

"We've got two teams. Tom, Tuvok and I will storm the camp, overpower the guards, and grab Seska. Hogan and Michelle Trent – another Maquis who's with us – will take a second team around to the back entrance. B'Elanna will stay on the Liberty, monitoring what's going on, ready to provide backup if needed."

"And Louis will stay on board, keeping an eye on Kes", she said grimly.

"Yes."

"Okay". She considered this for a moment. "What do you want me to do?"

"If Voyager arrives in the system, we expect Seska will try something. That could help us."

"Try what, exactly?"

"Your guess is as good as mine. Knowing Seska, something shifty and dangerous. She must have some kind of back-up plan, or an escape route at the very least."

Kathryn nodded thoughtfully. "Perhaps that's why she left Neelix's ship in orbit. So she could make a getaway without needed help from other Cardassians." She sighed, then returned her attention to the plan. "Timing will be important. What if she just goes to ground when we get there?"

"You need to wait for my signal before entering orbit. That means we're about to go in."

Kathryn nodded slowly. "Okay. Then what."

"Sit tight, just in case those patrols do turn up. Presumably Seska will be ready to pounce. We don't want her to sneak past us. B'Elanna may not have enough firepower to stop her, but Voyager would."

"You are joking!" Kathryn glared at him. "I have a score to settle with that woman, and I'm damned if I'm going to wait on the bridge while you charge in."

"I thought you might say that."

"Than add an extra team to your plan. My team."

He eyed her curiously. "A joint Starfleet-Maquis raid? How would that go down with your senior staff? The ones who aren't part of the secret police, that is? Not to mention Kumuda."

"I'll handle Kumuda".

"How?"

"I'll make sure she comes along. If she's next to me, she can't very well shoot me in the back."

Chakotay smiled grimly. "Sound thinking."

"I'll keep numbers to a minimum and lead the away team myself, with orders only to shoot those with facial ridges."

Now Chakotay chuckled. "Good thing I'm leaving B'Elanna in orbit."

Kathryn rolled her eyes. "Grey facial ridges, okay? I can keep her under my thumb until we reach the compound. Does Tuvok have any more details that might help us?"

"We have more information, yes. Perhaps we could set up a transmission between our ships? Something no one else would detect?"

"Can you do that?"

"I'm sure B'e can."

"Alright."

"I've got a few other things to tell you too."

"Like how you managed to get away from the Potemkin?"

"There's a crazier story there than you'd believe."

"Some other time, then."

"Right." He hesitated, glancing towards the doors that separated them from the other cabin. "We've set up a system of low-level radiation bursts throughout the runabout which have shielded our life signs from Voyager's sensors. But it won't work for much longer. You should get back."

Kathryn nodded, although a part of her couldn't help feeling disappointed to be leaving him so soon. "Right."

"What about him?" Chakotay jerked his head toward the cabin. "Will he talk?"

"I don't know." Kathryn considered the betrayed expression Cavitt had worn as Tuvok had led him past her. "I think he wants to trust me, and wants to help. He's not sure that he can, though. But I think he's a good man."

"Good men can do terrible things", Chakotay said quietly.

Kathryn shot him a quick look, but his face was blank.

"I'll tell him what I know before we go back", she said, "and ask for his help. It's worth a try. If he doesn't agree, Tuvok can always work his magic and we'll take him back unconscious."

"And when he wakes up?"

"It will be too late".

Chakotay gripped her hand. "I wish we had more time."

"I wish a lot of things", she said simply. "But as my aunt used to say, 'wishing won't make it so'."

"I'm not sure I like her", he said.

"Me neither."

He bent his head slightly and brushed his lips against hers.

"I love you, Kath," he whispered.

"I know", she said, "it's too bad I already have plans for tonight. We could meet for dinner."

"I'd like that."

"I'd like a lot of things", he said softly.

The door opened with a swoosh, and Tuvok's head appeared.

"Our protection from Voyager's sensors will cease to be effective in precisely three minutes."

Kathryn bit back a sarcastic reply and pushed herself up from the seat. "You'd better bring the Commander out here", she said, "I have a few things to explain to him."

Tuvok bobbed his head. "I believe I may have lain some groundwork for you. Mr Cavitt and I have been having a little chat."

When Cavitt stepped into the cabin, he glanced at Kathryn with an expression that was undoubtedly less hostile.

"Is it true?" he said.

She glanced at Chakotay, who'd also risen from his chair, then back at her XO.

"Which part?"

"The part about Lieutenant Kumuda being a double agent."

"Yes. She told me so herself."

"Why didn't you tell me that before?"

"To be honest, I didn't think you'd believe me."

Cavitt stared at her unflinchingly, then gazed steadily at Chakotay, then at Tuvok.

"Mr Tuvok has been telling me some interesting stories", he said. "If you can confirm them, then it sounds like you could use my help."

Kathryn bobbed her head towards him. "We could use your help", she said.

"If you're okay here, we should go", Chakotay said. He pressed his communicator. "Chakotay to the Liberty."

"Standing by".

"We're ready here."

As he and Tuvok began to dematerialise, he lifted his hand in farewell, then raised his voice to yell over the tingling of the beam.

"Watch your back, Kathryn".

In the silence that followed their departure, Kathryn imagined she could hear her heart beating more loudly than it had for weeks. She swallowed hard, then glanced over at Cavitt.

"Well Commander", she said, "Mr Tuvok tells me you've already had a little chat."

"That would be like calling our discussion on Jotham Four a friendly tete-a-tete."

She smiled at that. "I'm afraid there's more. Are you willing to hear it?"

Cavitt stared down at his boots, his face expressionless. Kathryn watched him closely, looking for a sign, any sign, about what he might be thinking.

"You know, I've always liked you, Captain", he said quietly.

She stared at him blankly. "What?"

He looked up, a small smile on his face. "After my work infiltrating the Maquis, I was happy to be back on Voyager. Even though we'd only served together for a little while, I enjoyed working with you. You're a fair Captain. I thought that, given time, we'd probably become friends." He shrugged. "Then we went to the Badlands, and were pulled to the other side of the galaxy. And then I was shot and sent back, without you, without the others. We didn't think we'd see you again."

Kathryn was silent, listening.

"Then you appeared again three months later. People were talking – you know how some people are – always ready to think the worst. Some of them thought you'd been taken prisoner by the Maquis, that their ship was sent back to the Badlands like we were, but they'd taken you off somewhere. Others thought…" he broke off, then went on, "well, I'm sure you heard. They thought you'd turned."

Here he finally met her eyes.

"I thought you'd turned", he said. "I read the transcripts, and I heard what some people were saying. And it seemed like all of a sudden you'd switched sides. You were defending them, you were fighting for the amnesty. When Admiral Groot called me in and told me to keep an eye on you, I didn't want to do it. But he had me in his palm. I'm not saying that's an excuse. I could have come clean about what happened back then… but to be honest, Captain, it was just easier to go along. And given that you seemed to be acting so differently, well, I didn't see that it was really that bad a thing to do."

He shook his head, his dark eyes troubled.

"But the more I heard about that shuttle explosion, the less I liked it. Hell! Even if it had been true, even if Chakotay had betrayed them all and had them killed for wanting to leave… damn it! They didn't all deserve to die like that. Not when they just wanted out. It wasn't fair. It wasn't right. I kept thinking about those kids I got to know when I was on the Liberty, back before this whole thing started. Back when I was the Starfleet mole. Some of them were good kids, you know? I remembered how I came to like them. I understood why you liked them. Then there were more rumours about you. Some of them, I knew Groot was responsible for." Cavitt took a few breaths, then continued. "But there were other people out there, on Voyager and elsewhere, who were defending you. Maybe you never heard about them. They kept saying that maybe there was something in what you'd said about the explosion. That maybe someone with the experience and good record of Kathryn Janeway wouldn't have been misled in just three months away. That maybe it wasn't so clear cut as the media wanted us to believe. And that's when I started to feel terrible about my reports to Groot's office. And I tried to stop them."

Kathryn nodded encouragingly, not wanting him to stop talking now he seemed to be on the verge of agreeing to help her.

"That's when you chewed me out, down in the caves on the colony world." He met her gaze again, this time his eyes bright. "I was glad, afterwards, actually. You gave me a way out, an excuse to tell Groot I had nothing more to give him."

"You told him I knew", she said softly.

"Yes. I told him you knew what I'd been doing and that you knew about my past. I told him that if you knew and didn't care, then maybe other people wouldn't judge me so badly either."

Remembering the stern faced Admiral from her debriefing, Kathryn couldn't help feeling admiration for his defiance. "How did he take that?"

He grinned wryly. "Not well. The long and short of it is, Captain, I was wrong to behave the way I did. I wanted to believe you were right. I should have come to you straight away when Groot approached me. I'm sorry I didn't. I want to make up for that now."

Kathryn felt her stomach lurch, almost unwilling to believe her good luck.

"Then you'll help us?"

Cavitt grinned at her, looking like a man reborn.

"Whatever you need, Captain. You can count on me."

Much to her surprise, Kathryn found herself smiling back at him. "You don't know how glad I am to here that. We've got some trouble ahead."

"What are we going to do now?"

Kathryn squared her shoulders, readying herself to call Voyager.

"We're going hunting", she said.

~~~

end of part thirty one

~ read part thirty two ~

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